Projects

The overarching motivation of the group is to design innovative technology solutions that facilitate and embed positive behaviour change.

Our research has shown that sticking to a new behaviour is a major challenge, and that the barriers are often similar, independent of the specific type of behaviour one wants to change or maintain. We investigate whether there are universal techniques and tools that one can apply to turn a newly adopted behaviour into a habit, and we aim to:

Create a fully working prototype application, using the above framework, that is reusable and adaptable for different types of behaviour change

Apply the prototype in a variety of contexts, systematically researching interventions and reporting findings

Components of a Behaviour Change System

This project is re-evaluating the effectiveness of first-generation behaviour change systems, especially through the lens of the interaction designer. The goal is to identify the characteristics of interaction design that enhance the effectiveness of theoretically grounded behaviour change systems.

We work closely with MoreLife, an organisation tackling obesity in children and adults. To find out more, get in touch with Paul at p.doney@leedsmet.ac.uk.

Mii and MiiBump – Tools to support women to exercise during and post pregnancy

Exercising during pregnancy has been shown to have positive effects on the mother and child in addition to reducing pregnancy and delivery risks, amongst other pregnancy related health issues. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) guidelines state that pregnant women, who are free of any health and pregnancy complications, can partake in moderate exercise up to 30minutes per day on most, if not all, days of the week; however the majority of pregnant women are classed as inactive and do not meet the ACOG exercise guidelines.

There is a need for more research into the tools that could help women to improve or maintain their exercise behaviours during pregnancy. Technology has a wide reach and ever advancing capabilities, it is therefore a potential tool that could be adopted to encourage and support exercising whilst pregnant, and post pregnant, to already active women as well as inactive women.

It is this area that is the current focus of the research with a view of developing and testing an app or AVG application with pregnant women. For more information please contact Pip Trevorrow at P.Trevorrow@leedsmet.ac.uk

On the Write Track

Despite the creative writing sector offering a variety of tools for supporting writing, our research identified a gap in the provision for supporting positive behaviours related to managing writing ambitions and promoting effective routines. Both could be offered through persuasive technology and we explore the hypothesis that a route to writing success is based on developing a regular writing routine, which is goal-based and measurable.

Core to this is a focus on positive behaviour change and fostering habits which can be tracked by the individual writer. We work closely with Rebecca Evans from The Minty Man – follow the project blog at blog.write-track.co.uk